Road Transport in East Africa
The EAC has facilitated sector reforms which include the formation of Road Boards (or Road Funds), Road Agencies, dedicated participation of private sector, harmonisation of regional policies and axle loads control in the road sub-sector. All the Partner States have road fund boards and road agencies.
The EAC has identified ten main corridors with a total length of about 15,000 km, which constitute the East African Regional Road Network. These are roads of strategic importance in facilitating trade and require to be kept in excellent condition. In order to ensure a high level of serviceability, the EAC in collaboration with Partner States has put in place a collaboration platform with development partners in order to mobilize funds for the development of these corridors.
The Community has identified ten main corridors (a total length of about 14,460 km), which constitute a strategic priority and require rehabilitation and upgrading.
The Northern Corridor from Mombasa to Bujumbura is part of the Trans-African Highway (Mombasa - Lagos) while the Tunduma - Moyale road is part of the Cape to Cairo Highway.
There are two transit corridors that facilitate import and export activities in the region:
- The Northern Corridor (1,700 km long) commencing from the port of Mombasa and serves Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Eastern DRC.
- The Central Corridor (1,300 km long) begins at the port of Dar es Salaam and serves Tanzania, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Eastern DRC.
The ten major road transport corridors are:
1. Northern Corridor Mombasa
Nairobi – Nakuru – Eldoret – Bungoma – Malaba – Bugiri – Jinja – Kampala – Masaka – Katuna/Gatuna – Kigali – Nemba/Gasenyi – Ngozi - Kayanza – Bugarama - Bujumbura
Corridor Length (rounded): 2,080km
2. Central Corridor
Dar es Salaam – Morogoro – Dodoma – Singida – Nzega – Tinde – Isaka - Lusahunga to:
(i) Gisenyi via Rusumo and Kigali
(ii) Bujumbura via Nyakasanza, Kobero and Gitega
(iii) Masaka via Bukoba and Mutukula
Corridor Length (rounded): 2,170km
3. Dar es Salaam (TAZARA) Corridor
Morogoro – Iringa – Mbeya -Tunduma
Corridor Length (rounded): 1,100km
4. Namanga Corridor
Iringa – Dodoma - Babati – Arusha – Namanga – Nairobi – Thika -Murang’a – Embu – Nyeri – Nanyuki – Isiolo – Marsabit - Moyale
Corridor Length (rounded): 1,800km
5. Sumbawanga Corridor
Tunduma – Sumbawanga –Mpanda – Uvinza – Kasulu – Manyovu/Mugina – Makamba -Nyanza Lac – Rumonge -Bujumbura
Corridor Length (rounded): 1,260km
6. Sirari Corridor
Biharamulo – Mwanza – Musoma - Sirari/Isebania – Kisii - Kisumu – Kakamega – Webuye - Kitale - Lodwar Lokichokio
Corridor Length (rounded): 1,500km
7. Coastal Corridor
Mingoyo - Dar es Salaam - Bagamoyo – Tanga – Horohoro/Lunga lunga – Kwale – Mombasa – Kilifi – Malindi - Lamu
Corridor Length (rounded): 1,500km
8. Mtwara Corridor
Mtwara – Mingoyo – Masasi –Tunduru – Songea - Mbamba Bay
Corridor Length (rounded): 800km
9. Tanga Corridor
Tanga – Arusha – Musoma – Lake Victoria - Kampala
Corridor Length (rounded): 1,650km
10. Gulu Corridor
Nimule – Bibia – Gulu – Lira – Soroti – Mbale - Tororo
Corridor Length (rounded): 600km